Orchestrion



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' G. F. WELLS.

OROHESTRION.

No. 887,128. Patented July 31, 1888.

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G. F. WELLS.

OROHESTRION. No. 387,128. Patented July 81, 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 3.

G. F. WELLS.

ORGHBSTRION.

No. 887,128. Patented July 81, 1888.

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ATTEET,

INVENTUR,

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. F. WELLS.

ORGHESTRION.

No. 887,128. Patented July 81, 1888.

ATTEET, INVENTU R, 31 Wald UNITED STATES PATENT GEORGE F. WELLS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ORCHESTREQN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No,387,128, dated July 31, 1888.

Application filed March 18, 1836.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. Wants, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Automatic Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of musical instruments known as reed instruments, where perforated music rolls or sheets are passed over a range of holes connecting with the notes. It will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the letters referring thereto.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an orchestrion with my improvement attached. Fig. 2 is arear view of the same with the back and soundingboard removed for the purpose of showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is an edge view of a portion of the same mechanism as that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. ais a broken perspective elevation showing the keyboard and the lever which operates the modilication of the volume of the tones. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing the keys and their connection with the swells and regulator for the volume of sound. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the general construction. Fig. 7 is a rear view of the bellowsoperating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a broken sectional view of the same. Fig. 9 is a front view of the indicator. Fig. 10 is a broken perspective view.

The object of my invention is to afford the means of operating the automatic reed-instrument with all the effect of the hand-instrument, allowing any required variation of time and expression by the performer, still leaving the instrument free' to play automatically, as will be fully explained.

A represents the frame or body of the instrument; B, the weight which operates the mechanism; 0, the weight-cord; D, theweightcord sheaves; E, the weight-cord windingdrum; F, the main driving-wheel; G, the ratchet-wheel and paw]; H, the pinion which gears with the wheel F and drives the wheel I, which. gears with the pinion J, giving motion to the shaft J and the wheel K, which carries the tappet-pins L L L L to operate upon the lever B, which connects with the spring-lever S by the weight and cord T.

Serial No. 195.687. (Yo model.)

M represents the driving sheave,over which the cord passes to the sheave N, which operates the sheave O by means of the sheave X, operating the m usic-rolls 0 and P, which pass the perforated music-paper over the range T in the usual manner well known to that class of instruments.

The keys are lettered A. B Z O D E F G Y X \V I J F H".

I) is the lever by which the front swell is operated. The lever B is connected with the key J for the purpose of operating the swell or sound-opening R by closing the valve G. The lever D being pressed down, operates the lever E and raises the swell A3 by means of the pin The time-indicator K has the thumb-knob L and thepointer N. It has also the words Largo, Andante, Allegro, and Presto, referring to the different time to which the pointer is to be set to give the required time.

I have shown in Figs. 7 of attachment for operating the pedals or levers O and P, which connect with and opcrate the bellows Q by means of the cords T and T over the sheaves R. The spring S throws the bellows together, causing it to blow as soon as the same is released. The walking-beam or lever N, fulcrumcd at N being operated by the cam H and connecting-rod K and spring V", and connecting by means of the rods L and M, operates the bellows Q.

In Fig. 3, V and V represent miter-gear, which is operated by the crank U for the purpose of revolving the drum E and winding the cord 0 and raising the weight B.

The following is the operation of my improved instrument: The crank U, being re volved, winds the cord C over the drum F, thus raising the weight 13. The gravity of the wei ht B is sufficient to revolve the wheel F, giving motion to the pinion H, which is upon the same shaft with and revolves the wheel I, which gears with and revolves the pinion J, which is upon the same shaft with and gives motion to the wheel K and sheave M. The wheel K carries the tappet-pins L, which as the wheel K is revolved strike the governorlever B. The sheave M is connected with the sheave N by the belt or cord shown, thus givand S the mode ing motion to the rolls 0 and P, which carry the perforated music-sheet over the range T cord X, and when it is depressed it raises thelever S up toward the periphery of the wheel K, slackening the cord which suspends the weight T, and as the tappets L strike the lever R the ball T jerks the lever S up against the periphery of the wheel K with increased force, thereby checking the motion of the same by friction. Thus any variation of the friction applied to the wheel K may be effected by the different degrees of pressureimparted by the operator upon the key X. lVhen released, the lever S is supposed to be so set as to allow a sufficient friction for common time, thus allowing the instrument to play antomatically.

The cord 0 connects the lever S with the arm M of the indicator K but it is slack except when the machine is to be stopped.

\Vhen the pointer N has passed the word Presto, the cord 0 becomes taut and pulls the brake-lever S against the wheel K, there by stopping the same, and consequently the whole instrument.

The lever S (shown in Figs. 1 and 10) is connected with the lever B by the cord Q and is operated by the knee when it is desired to allow a more rapid movement by raising the long end of the lever B, and lessening the effect of the tappet-pins L and causing but a slight jerk upon the weight-ball T.

For the purpose of operating the bellows automatically, I attach the cam H upon the shaft J, and as it revolves, the connecting-rod K is raised by each leaf of the cam H and returned by the spring V or any other suitable spring, to produce a regular reciprocating movement, alternately operating the rods L and M and the pedals O and P and the connecting-cords T and T thus operating the bellows Q.

The keys A B C D E F G connect with the lever D By the lever D being fulcrumed or hinged at S the key A, being nearest the fulcrum, gives the greatest motion to the same, and the motion is gradually less as it reaches the key G, which is farthest from the hinge or fulcrum S This lever D connects with the valve or swell A by means of the lever E fulcrumed at E, and the pin E, and thus as any of the keys from A to G are pressed, the valve or swell A is correspondingly opened, thus increasing the volume of sound.

The key J being operated, operates the le ver 13*, throwing down the valve G2 and 010s ing the valve-opening R thus lessening the volume of sound. The spring (J returns or opens the valve or door Gr when the pressure is removed from the key J The key 1 connects with the lever B by means of the joint I through the lever 1 and operates the valve or door G closing the valve-opening R and lessening the sound from the rear part of the instrument, as shown in the section shown in Fig. 5. The following is the operation of the same: The instrument being wound up, raising the weight B, and the music adjusted, it is operated as follows: The pointer N is removed from the stopping-point on the dial and turned back from the word Presto, thus releasing the brake by relieving the brake-lever S from the wheel K and allowing the weight B to descend, thus setting the operating mechanism in motion, thereby moving the music-paper over the range T or holes connecting with the reed. The pointer N is set upon the dial K at the point designating the time that is required for the music to be played. This gives a foundation for the time, and will be reliable and exact, being automatically con trolled by the action of the governor, as shown; but the time may be varied, accelerated, or retarded as follows: To retard the time, the key X is pressed in a degree corresponding with the effect required, and when it is desired the key X is pressed hard enough to hold the brake-lever S against the wheel K. To accelerate the time, the key W' is pressed, pulling the cord W and drawing the brake lever S back from the wheel K and allowing it to revolve more rapidly. It will be understood that in every instance where the wheel K is revolved, the time is kept uniform by the action of the governor actuated by the contact of the tappets L with the governor-lever R, as has been described. Should it be required to increase the time greatly, the knee is pressed against the knee-stop S and operates the cord Q and lever B, which, being fulcrumed at B is drawn entirely away from the tappets L and allows the wheel K to revolve rapidly and correspondingly increase the time of the music.

When it is required to execute a soft passage in music, the keys J 2 and I and F and H are pressed and held during the execution of the entire passage. To produce the forte, the key A is pressed, giving the greatest effect upon the front swell, A as its contact is nearest to the pivot or hinge S of the lever D but any modification is given by operating the keys B, O, E, F, and G in their order as they recede from the hinge S giving a correspondingly less effect in opening the swell A The back swell, A is opened by pressing the key Z and cord Z.

The low notes are placed at the back of the instrument, and to give the bass the prominence, the key Z only is operated to open the back swell, A

To produce special effect, I press the keys effecting the high tones or air j with the lower notes or accompaniment pp. The keys I and F are pressed, closing the valve G thereby closing or partially closing the opening R, while the front swell is opened to its fullest extent, thus producing the air 7 and the basspp.

It will be seen that the reverse of the above effect is given by pressing the keys H and J, and at the same time thus closing the valve G thereby closing the passage R and at the same time pressing the key Z, which fully opens the back swell, A. 7

By the operation of the above-described combination and arrangement of mechanism and the device shown every effect known to music may be accomplished, and while a novice can operate the instrument with good effect the most talented musician may employ all his musical talent and skill in the production of fine music.

To discharge the air from the bellows at once, the key Y is pressed, opening the door or valve Y by means of the cord Y.

I do not confine myself to any exact form of construction of the parts described, as they may be varied without changing the principle of the invention; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in automatic musical instruments, is

1. The weight B, the cord 0, the sheaves D D, the winding drum E, the wheel F, ratchetwheel I. and pawl G, the pinion H, the Wheel I, the pinion J, the wheel K, with tappet-pins L, and the wheel M, in combination with the wheels N, N*, and O, for the purpose of operating the musicrolls O and P and carrying the music over the range T constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as and for the pur poses set forth.

2. The wheel K,with tappet-pins L, in combination with the lever B, pivoted at R and operated in connection with the weight-ball Tand friction brake-lever S, for the purpose of regulating and governing or controlling the time of the music, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The dial plate K, with the words Largo, Andante, Allegro, and Pres to, with indicating-pointer N and lever-arm M in combination with the levers R and S, and the wheel K, connected by means of the cords O and P, for the purpose of regulating the time of the music and stopping the instru ment, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The keys A, B, O, D, E, F, and G, in combination with the front swell, A connected by means of the levers D and E pivoted at E, and the pin E, for the purpose of regulating the volume of sound from the higher notes, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The key J lever B and valve Gator the purpose of closing the air-opening R and soft ening the tone, constructed and operated sub sta'ntially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The key 1 and lever I, jointed at I, the lever B and valve or door G for the purpose of suppressing the volume of the low notes, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The cam H upon the shaft J, in combination with the connecting-rod K, with spring V the rock-shaft N, pivoted at N and the connectingrods L and M, levers O and P, andthe connectingcords Tand T for the purpose of operating the bellows Q, constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE F. ELLS.

Witnesses:

J OHN H. REDSTONE, L. E. REDsToNE. 

